Things I Didn’t Expect During the Rootless and Restless Book Tour in India.

I see myself seated up the steps, on a makeshift stage, under the snow-dusted Dhauladhar range and fluttering prayer flags. Behind me stands a life-size Buddha statue. A chilly breeze blows through my hair, whispering in my ears his message of mindfulness. The courtyard below is abuzz with people, more benches are being added for additional seating. After an afternoon of thunder and rain, the sky has turned blue again and the book launch is about to begin…

After three lonesome years of writing and editing my second book, time has come to launch it, to share it with the world, to surrender it to my readers. Sitting before that crowd, holding a copy of Rootless and Restless in my hands, I take a deep breath to reflect on this full-circle moment. It is in these mountains that I wrote most of the book. Tt is in the people I here that I sought inspiration, in the mud house kombucherie that I found my caffeine fix, in the women-run bakery that I rewarded myself with vegan treats for finishing the hardest chapters.

And just like that, the evening begins. The book tour is underway. Rootless and Restless is launched!

Also read: I Wrote my Second Book: Rootless and Restless

Through May, I travelled across the country – Himachal Pradesh, Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore – to launch Rootless and Restless, host reader events, do book signings at bookstores and join author talks at book clubs. I met so many of you (friends, acquaintances, digital connections, readers), signed hundreds of copies, and discussed all things travel and writing.

Along the way, lots surprised me on the first leg of my book tour in India:

Deep questions about the book and the version of ‘me’ that wrote it

I think writing a book is one of the most solitary things a human can do. I found myself traversing parts of my mind and memories only known to me. I dug within for words and emotions I wanted on the page. It was me, my notebook, my laptop, my paper scraps and my printed manuscript for so long.

I had no choice but to let go of the book when I sent the final draft to my editor at Penguin. When time came to launch it several months later, I felt like I was already a whole other person than the one who wrote it. It felt surreal to dive into its stories again, this time with the perspectives and observations of readers. I felt a strange déjà vu trying to access the version of me who wrote those 352 pages!

But I think what came as a great surprise, in this era of diminishing attention spans, is the attention to detail. I was floored by the kinds of questions readers asked, about the book, the places I wrote about, the themes I touch upon, the act of writing, the desire to navigate the world as an Indian woman and the uncomfortable paradoxes of travel. I feel so lucky that the book has found readers willing to engage deeply with it.

Also read: Creative Gardening, Deep Work and Living in Berlin at 38

A blur of intense, fleeting conversations during the book signings

At every book launch event, I was most excited about the after party – aka the book signing, where I got to meet readers one-on-one and sign freshly minted copies of Rootless and Restless. What I didn’t expect were all the soulful conversations I’d have in those short bursts of time.

I met readers who travelled hundreds of kilometers from nearby cities and towns to attend the launch, who shared their incredible life journeys in a few condensed minutes, who’ve been reading my blog since 2011 when I first launched it (!), who remembered attending my Twitter chats in the good old days, who grew up following my Instagram, who took their first solo trip after reading my first book, who quit their jobs or switched careers inspired by my work…

It all happened so fast, so back to back, that those conversations have turned into one sweet fleeting memory. I remember sitting on the flight ‘home’ to Berlin from Bangalore, looking at the notes and letters I received during the book tour, feeling overwhelmed with gratitude that my books and digital life have enabled such meaningful connections.

Also read: This Month, 11 Years Ago, I Quit My Full-Time Job to Travel

Surprising interpretations of Rootless and Restless

Let’s just say the title of my new book became a question everywhere. Many moderators and readers had their own interpretations of what it means to be rootless and restless, and I loved hearing them all. My ideas of rootlessness and restlessness might be very different (ask me sometime ;-), but I think that’s the beauty of reading. As a reader, you bring your own lens and life experience to a book like this.

What I enjoyed even more was the ways in which readers – especially those part of book clubs and reading communities, who are used to analyzing and raising questions about the books they read – dissected the many underlying themes of the book. They asked me things like: Do I intentionally never mention the word feminism in the book? Was it my intention that people should fall in love with the joy of travelling but also feel uncomfortable about it? Did writing the book help me find answers or leave me with more questions?

Also read: Insider Tips: How to Get Paid to Travel the World

Signing battered, well-travelled copies of The Shooting Star

When I published my first book, The Shooting Star, 8 years ago, I read some shocking stats about publishing: Most books sell 500-2000 copies, and quickly go out of print. I hoped mine would atleast stay in the hearts of those who read it.

Now, 20,000+ copies and 8 reprints later, I’m so grateful that The Shooting Star continues to be read and treasured, by readers old and new. Every now and then, someone tags me in a story of them travelling with The Shooting Star. That book might just have travelled more than me!

The real surprise came when I started signing copies during my book tour. Along with a new copy of Rootless and Restless, many people brought along their old, aging copies of The Shooting Star for signing! Some had scribbles in the margins, some were marked with post-it notes, some looked like they’d been read way too many times. Sometimes I think the biggest competitor of Rootless and Restless is The Shooting Star 😉

Also read: What No One Tells You About Publishing a Book in India

Going into recovery mode for weeks afterwards

As someone who strongly identifies as an introvert and guards her social time like a precious jewel, I outdid myself during my book tour. I held a travel writing workshop and four launch events, said yes to media interviews and talks with book clubs, went bookstore hopping to sign copies and tried to expand my literary network with one-on-one meetings – all in the span of a month, with back-to-back travelling across four cities! Since I’m based in Europe this year, I wanted to maximize my time in India, and I sure did.

Yet despite the constant public appearances, talks, interviews and socializing, I felt fine. Some off days certainly helped, but I didn’t feel like I needed to go into hiding as I imagined I would. Part of this might have to do with the inner journey I’ve recently embarked on, which compels me to challenge every belief I’ve held about myself.

But just when I thought I’d transformed into a new person, the crash hit me. It’s been nearly six weeks since I’ve been back in Berlin, and I’ve hardly been social. Even the act of answering emails and Whatsapp messages felt draining for a while. No matter how much caffeine I had, my brain refused to fire up. So I binge-watched two beautiful Turkish shows, read books, postponed my next creative endeavor, went on long walks, invisibly attended some cultural and literary events, journaled, and rewarded myself for showing up when I most needed it. Perhaps I’ve grown after all.

Did you attend any of my book launch events in India? How was the experience for you?